Author: Lindsey Burbee

Melink Develops 1.26MW Solar Arrays At University Of Dayton

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CINCINNATI, OHIO – Melink Corporation has announced a partnership with the University of Dayton to install 4,026 solar panels with a capacity of 1.26 megawatts of power at two of the University’s campus locations; Curran Place and Fitz Hall. Melink Corporation will engineer and construct the arrays, as well as own them and sell the electricity to the University as part of a long-term power purchase agreement.  The University has an option to purchase the arrays after eight years.

The solar arrays will provide nearly 10 percent of the power consumption of both buildings as well as power electric car stations at the two locations. Overall, the panels will provide approximately 2 percent of the campuswide power consumption and offset carbon emissions by about 1 percent annually. Offsetting campus carbon emissions by 1 percent in a year is equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 278 cars or the annual carbon dioxide emissions from 1.4 million pounds of burned coal, 140 homes, or conserving 3,010 barrels of oil.

 “We are super-excited to partner with the University of Dayton, said Melink CEO Steve Melink.  “This is an opportunity to educate and inspire not only the students and faculty but the public
throughout Ohio and the Midwest.  Sustainability and clean energy are the way of the future, and U.D. has just put a big stake in the ground as a leader.”  

 

Melink Corporation and the University of Dayton will work together to provide opportunities for students, faculty, and researchers to participate in the installation of
the modules, and document the process for future use. Post installation, the Hanley Sustainability Institute and the University of Dayton Engineers in Technical Humanitarian Opportunities of Service learning (ETHOS), among other faculty, staff and students,  plan to use the modules for sustainability research and/or incorporate them into the curriculum or other programming.

“One attractive feature of working with Melink is that Melink involves our students in this project from the very beginning and on an ongoing basis,” said Bob Brecha, director of research in the University of Dayton Hanley Sustainability Institute. “Our campus has quite intentionally become a giant sustainability lab where students from all majors can have a hand in many of our efforts to become a greener campus.”

Learn about how solar could benefit your school or business at melinkcorp.com.

About Melink Corporation: We are a global provider of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for the commercial building industry. With four business units and a singular energy mission, we help companies save energy, increase profits and make the world a more sustainable place.

Melink Corporation Awarded GSA Certification To Work Directly With U.S. Government Agencies

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

CINCINNATI, OH – Melink Corporation, a global provider of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, just announced it has been awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Services 056 Contract. This 5-year contract will enable Melink Corporation to partner directly with U.S. government agencies to deliver Intelli-Hood®, their proprietary kitchen ventilation controls, for increased energy efficiency in cooking operations. .

The US Government has been making strides towards sustainability, adopting more products and services that will improve energy usage in their buildings. The US Army compiled research on exhaust air and makeup air hood optimization, showing both the energy and financial savings of using kitchen ventilation controls to regulate the fan speed found here. Melink Corp has worked on numerous US Government projects to date, with agencies such as DOD, DOE, VA Healthcare, GSA and others with cooking operations. This certification will make it easier for the government to implement Intelli-Hood into their projects and continue to make energy efficiency a priority.

“Melink is optimistic that this GSA contract award will increase opportunities for the Government to create more sustainable operations and eliminate barriers to purchasing our Intelli-Hood controls.” said Randy Miles, VP & General Manager of Intelli-Hood.

Since inventing the first demand control kitchen ventilation (DCKV) system over 30 years ago, Melink has created significant energy savings in over 30,000 hoods across the globe. Compatible with all manufacturers, Intelli-Hood can be used in both new construction and retro-fit projects. Unique dual sensors with self-learning algorithms ensure the safest environment and the highest energy savings.

To learn more about Intelli-Hood please visit Intellihood.com.

­­About Melink Corporation: A global provider of energy efficiency and renewable energy  solutions for the commercial building industry. With four business units and a singular energy mission, we help companies save energy, increase profits and make the world a more sustainable place.

Love What You Do

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Not long
before Christmas I was out to dinner with some friends and family.  At one
point during the night, the topic shifted toward the Sunday night anxiety
that comes in anticipation of the work week.  Folks went around the table
describing why they get grouchy on Sunday and dread the upcoming week.
Eventually my turn came and I couldn’t help but chuckle and, somewhat
sheepishly, say, “I feel sorry for you guys… I love what I do!”. 

 

As a
business leader, this conversation really stuck with me. I’m really
disheartened to know that so many people don’t enjoy their work.  Let’s
face it, most of us spend more time working than with our own families, and spending
that much time unhappy is nothing short of tragic.  So, why do so many
people struggle to enjoy their work? 

 

I’m sure
there are plenty of books and articles out there on this topic.  It
may be easy for me to say that I love what I do, but what about the rest of the
Melink Team Family?  One of our top strategic
objectives every year is to ensure our organization is considered a Great Place
to Work. While I try to keep an active pulse on this year-round, I am always proud
when I see the results of the annual Great Place to Work survey. Here’s what
people have to say about why they love coming to work at Melink.

 

 As
for me… I’m certainly no expert, but I believe life is what you make of
it.  I don’t view my work as “work” and my personal life as “personal life”…
to me, it’s all just life.   Every day will come at us with an
astounding number of challenges.  We can choose to view these as problems
or opportunities.  Personally, I prefer to view each day as a gift, and
each problem an opportunity.  It also helps to know that I have the
pleasure of working with a world class team of professionals.  This Melink
Family is working to change the world, one building at a time, to
improve our global economy, security, and environment – for our children and
future generations.  As a father of three, how can I not be absolutely in
love with what I do?   

 

 

Meet Angela Bradley, Director of HR

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

What does your job entail? 

Support and guidance for management on strategic staffing plans, compensation, benefits, training and development, budget, and employee relations.

What is your personal philosophy?

“never, never, never give up”

What did you do before coming to Melink? 

HR Manager with Effox-Flextor, Division of CECO Environmental

What is your favorite aspect of working at Melink?

The Employees

What do you like to do in your time off? 

Spend time with my family and friends.  We like to boat, ride our motorcycle and travel as much as we can.

What are you most proud of? 

I did not complete college in 4 years but 14 years.  I never gave up on the importance of my education. During those 14 years, I married, had 2 kids, continued to work part time and attend school part time.  I finished in May of 1999 after having my daughter at spring break. 

What are your hopes for our industry company?   

Achieving our annual goals, development of our employees, and recruit and retain top talent

Motto or personal mantra? 

A former boss and mentor printed this quote for me.  She said, “When you feel challenged or overwhelmed, read and repeat every day” . . .

 “I plead with you – never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged.  Be not afraid.”     ­-St. John Paul II”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you collect
anything? 

I love antiques and hunting
for antique furniture

Tax Reform Bill Windfall – Reinvest In Efficient Operations for the Long Haul

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Your profits just increased 14%, what are you going to do with all that cash???

Large US companies are on tap to reap the benefits of a 21% corporate tax, down from 35% (not factoring in Effective Tax Rates), under the new federal tax bill and there are many theories on where the money will go. Several companies have already given out bonuses, announced minimum wage increases, increased 401k matches, stock buyback programs, and increased shareholder dividends.  While all these are great short term shots in the arm during a time of robust economic growth, I’d like to argue that the smart play would be to invest in operational and energy efficiencies to prepare for an economic pullback and eventual awakening of the bears. Fortunately for many companies this recent time of growth has come over a period in which energy prices have been relatively flat ,or declining, resulting in reduced expenses and increased profit margins.  The rates for natural gas are slightly above 10-year lows and electrical pricing has shown a modest increase of 3% on average across the United States (https://www.electricchoice.com/electricity-prices-by-state). It would be short sided and foolish to think these rates will remain near basement levels for the long-term as geo-political flash points or natural disasters could lead to sharp increases in rates. Unless businesses invest in efficiency now they’re not going to be able to react fast enough to counter the cost of an increase should an event occur or prices quickly rebound.

 

 

Source: Market Insider Even at today’s rates most mainstream energy conservation measures (ECMs) fall at, or under, the industry benchmark of a 3-year Simple Payback Period, or ~33% ROI.  Despite the bull market running wild, it can be difficult to find a relatively risk free investment that will yield a consistent 33% return. Therefore, the smart money will point toward investing in efficiency projects now in favorable capital markets. Aside from some newly minted Bitcoin millionaires, my bet is that most “Main Street Americans” would rest easy at night knowing their investment will yield a consistent return north of 30%. There’s likely not one silver bullet technology that will drastically improve operational efficiencies, however there are many proven low risk investments such as LED lighting, HVAC upgrades, Building Management Systems, and smart building controls that can have an impact on many areas of your operations. This multi-faceted approach to energy efficiency will build a more robust infrastructure and predictable energy usage profile for business operator for when the economy eventually pulls back and rates increase. I’m not an economist, investment banker, trader, or tax analyst, but I do manage a global business and believe in growth reinvestment balanced with the protection of downside risk.  So, if you’re a building owner, asset manager, facility manager or responsible for the financial performance of your business; I urge you to mitigate your future operations cost risk and invest in efficiency today.

Happy Holidays from Melink

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

As CEO of one of the greenest companies on Earth, I want to take this opportunity to thank our many customers!  Together, we are changing the world one building at a time … by saving energy and reducing the carbon footprint of millions of square feet every year.

Since the spirit of the Holidays is about giving, let me share some ideas about how you can accelerate your journey to a clean energy future at your business and home:

  • Replace your high-usage lights with LEDs.
  • Improve your building envelope with additional attic insulation and triple-pane windows.
  • Upgrade to a geothermal HVAC system when it is time to replace your existing system.
  • Install a heat-pump water heater – and connect to your geothermal system after it is upgraded.
  • Purchase only high-efficiency appliances.
  • Install a solar PV array on your roof, ground, or parking lot to offset your remaining electrical loads.
  • Select the green power option from your local utility for any power you buy form the grid.
  • Purchase or lease only hybrid and preferably electric cars, vans, and trucks.
  • Install EV charging stations at work to educate and inspire your employees and visitors.
  • Install a battery storage system to reduce peak demand charges and ensure against power outages.

Every homeowner and business can reduce its energy/carbon use by 50% or more.  In fact, many of the largest and most successful businesses, universities, and governments across the U.S. and world have already achieved carbon neutrality.

This is about our economy, security, environment, and health!  We can be part of the problem or part of the solution.  Be a leader, do the right things, and your brand and business will benefit.

Thanks again for the privilege and honor of working with all of you. We’re humbled by your passion and trust to make the world a better place for us and future generations.

Cheers!

Steve Melink

CEO

Melink Corporation        

Meet Matt Meyer, Director of Field Service for Melink T&B!

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Business Unit and Job Title

Director of Field Service, Melink T&B

What does your job entail?

Leading and developing the T&B National Network and continually refining field operations to improve customer service and profitability.

What is your personal philosophy?

Enjoy what I do, enjoy who I spend time with, and be passionate in all that I do.

What did you do before coming to Melink?

Project Manager and Service Department manager in the commercial roofing industry for several years and before that I was a Captain in the US Army.

What is your favorite aspect of working at Melink?

The people, hands down the best group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. The passion that is displayed each and every day is infectious. You cannot help but try to be your very best when you work here.

What do you like to do in your time off?

I like spending time and traveling with my family. We love to go to museums, parks, zoos, sporting events and just hanging out at the house too! I also like working with my hands and working in the yard.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

I’m a history nerd. I named my son, Jackson, after my favorite US President/War of 1812 General and also my favorite Civil War General.

What are you most proud of?

My wife and kids!

What are your hopes for our industry?

I hope that our industry continues to grow and evolve. And that Melink is at the forefront of innovation as buildings become more intelligent and consumers seek to become more energy and environmentally conscious.

Motto or personal mantra?

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. – Theodore Roosevelt

Do you collect anything?

OH YES! I collect Beer Steins, Pint Glasses, Coasters, Bobbleheads – pretty much anything for my basement bar.

Higher Education Dining Trends Impact On Energy Usage

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

The dining experience at Colleges and Universities across the country has changed drastically over the last decade. Although it has been about ten years since I left, it feels like just yesterday I was on campus at the University of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky University. During my tenure, the options were limited; you might find a handful of cafeterias across campus and a few popular fast food places like Wendy’s, Subway and Pizza Hut at the student union. Visiting campus now I can’t believe the changes; there are hundreds of options. The student unions have started to look more and more like casino food courts that include local options and big names. Students are seriously taking food offerings into account when considering a school, especially if they’re going to live on campus. Colleges are majorly using it to their advantage to recruit students and provide a better campus life. In 2008, NKU even constructed a new Student Union Building to compete with other local area colleges.

Over the last 7 years or so, I’ve toured dozens of higher education kitchens and the cooking operations are huge. West Point, for example, serves around 5,000 meals in a very short amount of time on any given day. All the Big 10 schools have between 7 and 10 dining halls on campus that are running for 3+ meals a day and serving a variety of options from soups and chili to baby-back ribs. With the large operations come large costs! Not just in the obvious costs including wages, salaries, and benefits, but in big time energy usage. Running the exhaust fans and the corresponding MUA units 16+ hours per day is a ton of wasted electricity. Additionally, the number of commercial exhaust hoods required to prepare the diverse food preparation means there is a ton of exhausted air and reconditioning of air required.

As schools continue to compete for higher enrollment rates and evolve with demand, they have to respond to the increased energy usage and operating expenses to ensure they can remain competitive with pricing. Many colleges and universities have tight operating budgets for their facilities, so it’s especially important to find low or no-cost ways to reduce energy expenditures. To combat these new challenges, Campus Energy Managers have started considering Demand-Controlled Kitchen Ventilation (DCKV) systems to help save the electric energy being wasted on all the new fan motors and reconditioned air. These systems conserve energy, save money and make for a quieter and more comfortable cooking experience.  Energy Managers have also started engaging students and faculty in energy conservation to save on campus energy bills. At many higher education institutions, students are the biggest advocates for energy efficiency and will respond enthusiastically to educational initiatives and conservation pledge campaigns.

 

Could Intelli-Hood be a fit for my project?

Is energy usage a pain point in your campus kitchen? Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood could save you?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood page to get started.

 

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Intelli-Hood Case Study – Corporate Dining

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

CONTEXT

The goal for the new R&D Center was to make a state-of-the art building that was also energy efficient. The current energy  incentives made the decision even easier, knowing they would save money on the installation as well as through the life of the product. The goal for the kitchen build was simple; keep a clean aesthetic using the latest technology to improve efficiency and reduce overall costs.

RESULTS

The results and savings exceeded all expectations. With the use of the energy incentives and the efficiency of the upgraded system, they made a 118% return on their investment before the end of the first year. Additionally, the new system was able to reduce fan speed over 60% on average, saving almost $45,000!

SITE INFORMATION

Total Motor Power: 35 HP

Daily Operating Hours: 19

Days Per Week: 7

Weeks Per Year: 52

Cost Per Kilowatt Hour: $.09

Below is a sample graph of the varying exhaust fan speed for one day at the Resort:

 

Could Intelli-Hood be a fit for my project?

Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood could save within your commercial or industrial kitchens?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood page to get started.

 

Email this case study or share it to your social media by clicking the icons below.

Meet Lorie Reese, Project Specialist

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

What does your job entail?

Direct support for the IH Project Managers and IH Sales Team

What is your personal philosophy?  

“Live every moment, Laugh everyday, and love beyond words”

What did you do before coming to Melink?  

Prior to coming to Melink, I was a Marketing Specialist with a local software company.

What is your favorite aspect of working at Melink?

The family oriented culture coupled with the vision and values of Melink.

What do you like to do in your time off? 

Spending time with my family including my 3 dogs.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

I love to watch WWE Wrestling.  I go to the events when they come to Cincinnati and the surrounding Tri-state area.

What are you most proud of? 

My daughter and my husband.

What are your hopes for our industry? 

My hope is that people will become more open to the idea of clean renewable energy and understand the real negative impact for this generation and generations to come, if we don’t make the change now.

Motto or personal mantra?  

Worry about nothing and pray about everything.

Do you collect anything? 

My husband and I love collecting Hallmark Ornaments.  We started this the year before we were married and hope to pass the collection on to my daugher.